Lies from PETA

Animal wranglers involved in the making of “The Hobbit” movie trilogy say the production company is responsible for the deaths of up to 27 animals, largely because they were kept at a farm filled with bluffs, sinkholes and other “death traps.” …

The Hobbit production has always instituted swift and immediate investigations in to any concerns of any kind over the treatment of animals under its care. A prompt and thorough investigation into the recent unsubstantiated allegations by the American organisation, PETA, in to the ‘hobbling’ of a horse during the making of The Hobbit was undertaken. No evidence of such a practice was found to have occurred at any time. Further, the production contacted the owner of the horse concerned who provided the following statement: “I am 100% happy with the return of Shanghai and his condition. In the term that he was leased he was picked up and returned to me two times. On both occasions there was not a mark on him and he was healthy and happy. He has shown no signs of ill-treatment. I would not hesitate in leasing him to the movie again.”

To date, the only horse wranglers whose treatment of animals fell below the production’s standard of care seem to be the two wranglers who have chosen to level this new accusation on the eve of the premiere of the first Hobbit film and who were dismissed by the production over a year ago. Reports of their actions are documented in several written statements dating back to October 2011.

Dr Julia Bryce, Vet:

“From December 2010 till July 2012, this practice was the primary Veterinary care giver for the horses and livestock in the care of “Three Foot Seven”.

During this period we were consulted promptly in cases of injury and illness. We were also consulted routinely about ongoing veterinary care and preventative medicine.

If referral was required to a specialist clinic or Massey Equine Clinic, this occurred promptly. As occurs in normal practice there are incidences and injury which may result in an unfavourable outcome and others that recover completely; like the young goat who fractured a front leg but recovered completely after 6 weeks in a cast and hospital rest, or the rooster who spent two weeks at our clinic with a foot infection.

These and other animals in the care of Three Foot Seven Limited received the best available treatment to ensure their recovery, their welfare and return to good health was paramount to those in charge. At no time were we concerned about the welfare and on-going treatment of animals under our care.”

Joy Gray, farmer:

“I was appalled to hear of the wild claims being made in the media by PETA. I and my family own the farm which the Hobbits used to train their animals. Myself, my manager, my children and grand-children saw nothing to make us uncomfortable or give us cause for concern. We all had totally free access to all activities at all times. In fact, the animals were wonderfully looked after, being well-fed, well-housed, and well-treated. As both farmers and dedicated horse people ourselves we would have stood for nothing less. I myself ride horses, all my children rode competitively and now my grandchildren ride.

I was involved in Pony Club for many years and was District Commissioner for the Wellington Pony Club. My manager was totally aware of all that was happening with the Hobbits and he is outraged at these false claims.

And Jed Brophy who played Nori:

“As an actor and animal trainer who has worked on large scale productions here in New Zealand, in particular The Lord of the Rings Trilogy and more recently, The Hobbit, I am flabbergasted to read this morning of the accusations levelled at the production by PETA. With a production as large as The Hobbit, filmed over such an extensive period the care of the animals used in filming was exceptional. The entire time we were on set, and when we were training with the animal wranglers employed to look after and train the animals for filming, I observed no mistreatment – in fact the opposite is true. …

I feel that there is a certain amount of personal vindictiveness levelled at the production from individuals with their own agenda. As is often the case in these situations, organisations will leap at the chance to gain publicity for their cause without seeking the truth. Being an experienced horseman and having worked as a wrangler and rider in the past, I would not have allowed myself to be a part of any production that knowingly employed unsafe practice in the workplace in this way. I can say with absolute certainty the production went out of their way to treat animals with the upmost respect and care.”

Basically it seems a couple of horses died after falling down a ledge. It’s sad, but it is a world away from mistreatment.

Reid

hinamanu

never trust anything American and no way Hollyweird. Jackson has become a completely different person since being involved with them. They even made him lose weight. The pigs in that pig movie were all slaughtered. So were the Reindeer in the Santa movie. As I have made obvious, we all forget the movie. Same here. We will forget and Hollywood knows it

Kimble

From YWDs link,

The organization renewed its call to the entertainment industry asking for additional jurisdiction and funding to keep animal actors safe not only while they are working on set, but off set as well to address illegitimate suppliers of animals and to ensure proper training, housing and retirement of these important and beloved co-stars of film and television.

Because of American Humane Association’s monitoring of the animal action which included having a licensed veterinarian on the scene, no animals were harmed on set during filming of “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.”

Auberon

Yes, the trade union backed Hobbit haters really are out in force. It started last weekend with the dodgy “poll” which purported to show that people were concerned about employment relations on the Hobbit and were tiring of the film franchise, and followed with the beardy weirdy Mike Joy, who thinks 100% Pure New Zealand should only be used if we live in caves and poop in holes. Now PETA. Coincidence? No way.

labrator

@yeswedid from your own link

Because of American Humane Association’s monitoring of the animal action which included having a licensed veterinarian on the scene, no animals were harmed on set during filming of “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.”

Dean Papa

“To date, the only horse wranglers whose treatment of animals fell below the production’s standard of care seem to be the two wranglers who have chosen to level this new accusation on the eve of the premiere of the first Hobbit film and who were dismissed by the production over a year ago.”

This appears to be another example of the usual Jackson bullying tactics, which have become all too predictable. Apparently it is really those who are making the accusations that are the guilty ones. Sounds more like the twisted logic of a sociopath than an academy award winner director and knight of the NZ order of merit.

While the claims of onset cruelty might appear to be a beat-up from Peta, we shouldn’t just, for mere patriotic reasons, dismiss them altogether. What happened to the miniature horse named Rainbow? What happened to Clare? Are these accounts from the Wranglers true, or are they lies? It would seem a simple matter to clear up. If you are caring for an animal then you are responsible for the environment you provide for it to live in. End of story. These are not mere accidents. One of the Wranglers claims he quit (so was not in fact dismissed). Is that true? Did the unit manager for the Hobbit not respond to emails as implied in the story. Were the chickens mauled by dogs? Did sheep and goats fall into sink holes as claimed in the story. A simple yes or no answer would be nice.

annie

What Dean Papa said 2:44 pm.

I don’t trust PETA particularly, but I’m not sure Peter Jackson’s statements can be trusted to represent the whole truth either, given what is at stake for him.

Seems a nice opportunity for a spot of investigative journalism – a followup on specific instances would give a better indicator of where the truth lies than unsubstantiated allegations and defences from people who benefited financially from the making of the movie. I’m not saying they’re being untruthful, but I am saying their financial interests being aligned with the movie mean that their statements should be checked out.

To date, the only horse wranglers whose treatment of animals fell below the production’s standard of care seem to be the two wranglers who have chosen to level this new accusation on the eve of the premiere of the first Hobbit film and who were dismissed by the production over a year ago.

That to me actually undermines the case as it appears that he’s tarring the whistleblowers.

Dave Stringer

Twould seem the American Humane Association are not at all upset with the Hobbbit’s producers. From their website:-

no animals were harmed on set during filming of “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.” However, upon learning of injuries and deaths of animals while being housed at a working farm 186 miles from the main set and 26 miles from the soundstage, American Humane Association went beyond its jurisdiction and authority to visit, examine and make safety recommendations and improvements to the farm. These recommendations were implemented a year ago, bringing a higher level of animal welfare to all animals living on the site into the future.

If there is an issue on a farm that has NOTHING TO DO WITH THE FILM’s PRODUCERS, there is not really an expectation that that issue should be of any interest to said producers. However, in this case the AHA visited the farmand recommended changes to the husbandry practices used there, recommendations which the producers paid to implement.

If there’s cause for concern here, it is that the everyday monitors of farming practice were not sufficient to identify bad practice. THIS we could we concerned about.

kowtow

David Garrett

Oh dearie me …a rooster kept at the vet’s for two weeks with a foot infection! What the hell have we all become? What happened to a hatchet and a block as treatment for an ailing rooster?

A couple of weeks ago I saw something about a Californian branch of PETA which wanted to set up a roadside memorial to a bunch of fish which had died when the truck taking them to THE FISH MARKET had crashed. The reason for the memorial?

“Because fish value their lives and feel pain.” Where is the evidence for either of those propositions, particularly the first?

And although I am going to be denounced for using simple common sense, consider this. Farmers still put rings in bulls’ noses so they can lead them along by a landyard attached to the ring. The bull follows, because if he doesn’t, the farmer tugs the lead, it bloody hurts his nose!

Game fish on the other hand will fight and struggle, sometimes for hours, against a hook in their mouth. When they are finally got to the side of the boat, they are usually tagged and released these days (unless they are too yummy, such as yellowfin and mahimahi). It is then not unknown for these highly sentient fish to promptly take the same lure it has just spent a few hours fighting.

@ David Garrett – I guess PETA will be staking out my whare after the Hobbit premiere is over. I not only caught a mahimahi up in the islands a few weeks ago, but it was landed, filleted and eaten. And a bloody good feed it was too. Best I go and get the sackcloth and ashes ready 😛

David Garrett

Shit…I just returned, hoping for some reasoned rebuttal of my post…or at least some foaming at the mouth nonsense from some PETA “activist”…and nothing! Come on…think about the poor tortured fish! I have personally tortured at least a dozen, and that’s only the gamefish…

Just as you would expect one of your political opponents to listen to what you had to say when you were ACT’s spokesperson to understand your side of the argument, if you genuinely want to have a balanced view on animal rights, that documentary will give you a good idea of why animal rights activists consider it a significant issue.

Dean Papa

Adolf Fiinkensein

if that’s your real name. Your argument does not make sense. Please try to be a little less condescending, if you don’t mind. You have told me nothing that I don’t already know (apart from the fact you shot 17 dogs in one year. You were counting, eh? Was it fun? I do appreciate the confession. Do you need me to validate your dog shooting hobby?).

But back to the point in question. This was not a farm. If it is routine practice for farmers to bludgeon bobby calves over the head with hammers, then so be it. It is always amusing to hear farmers claim that they love their animals, especially the ones who have been accused of animal cruelty. But I digress, once more. Those animals working for Jackson’s movie should have been given the highest standards of care and attention. Just as a matter of principle, because it would have been the right thing to do. Do you see what I’m saying? It’s Jackson’s movie, did he not feel any personal responsibility for the animals he was going to use? At present, at least judging from his aggressive defence to any criticism, it appears the answer to that question is he did not. And what a shame that is.